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V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, S
pring
2017
6
“Greeks can be explosive,” Maria Everett had said slyly,
punctuated with a wink. The playful sentiment was almost
foreboding in a way—watch out for a woman who is not afraid
to speak her mind. Be careful in the presence of a woman whose
being as an opinionated second-generation Greek-American
singer, who happens to be an avid Chuck Berry fan, explodes the
myth of what a government worker is supposed to look like. Maria
Everett’s whimsical disposition might seem like a surprising fit for
someone who has worked as a Senior Attorney for the Division
of Legislative Services, but it is this quirky-individualism that
translates to a genuine sincerity winning over anyone with whom
she comes in contact.
Working as the Executive Director of the Virginia Freedom of
Information Advisory (FOIA) Council for over 17 years, Maria
Everett has come to embody the spirit behind her line of work. With
her characteristic “tell it like it is” attitude, she uses her conviction
to ardently stand up for the idea of an
open and transparent government.
Under her dominion, the Virginia
FOIA Council has served as a
much needed liaison, fostering a
mutualistic relationship between
the government and the people in
the Commonwealth of Virginia. The
Virginia FOIA Council was created
to assist in the implementation
of the FOIA act, a law dealing
with disclosure of governmental
business documents upon a party’s
request. Although the government
is generally required to respond
to someone’s FOIA request by
disclosing the requested document,
there are rules and limitations to
what the government is allowed to
disclose to the public, which makes
every FOIA request subject to a
matter of interpretation on a case by
case basis. Maria Everett has been
involved with the interpretation
of countless informal and written statements in compliance with
FOIA regulations, responding to inquiries from media workers,
private citizens and business owners alike about the accessibility
of information to governmental documents and open records.
As a second-generation Greek, Everett acknowledges a legacy
coursing through her veins that has informed her work ethic. Living
in Alexandria, Va., her parents served as examples of the American
dream meritocracy narrative in which Everett has put her faith.
Her grandparents arrived in America seeking greater economic
opportunity. Her mother had to learn English while going to
school. Her father ended up pursuing a career as a police officer.
Despite the hardships characteristic of being born of immigrant
families, both of her parents rose to reputable positions, her father
being a member of the secret services and her mother working at
the Pentagon. Everett had been exposed to the governmental side
of public policy her entire life, and she knew that she wanted to
carry the torch ignited by her ambitious parents.
Although the immigrant ethos implanted by her parents has
helped in her professional endeavors, Everett is far from a woman
that’s all work and no play. According to her high school sweetheart
and husband of 35 years, Everett was considered the “queen” of
her high school— the captain of the cheerleading squad who swam
competitively and sang in the choir while tending to her studies.
Everett would go on to pursue her undergraduate degree at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech), where she majored in
sociology and minored in Spanish and Music. Feeling alienated
among 15,000 students, she ended up seeking refuge in the music
community at Tech as her support group. Music has always been a
source of refuge for Everett. Coming from a music-oriented family
where every one of her five siblings played an instrument, she
says she considers music as a source of healing and communal
validation.
After graduating, Everett went to George Mason University to
receive her law degree in 1981, and was admitted to the Virginia
State Bar in 1982. Everett wasted no time embarking on her career
in state government serving as the committee clerk for the Senate
of Virginia during the 1984 and 1985 session of the General
Assembly. She worked under various standing committees such
as the Courts of Justice, Finance and Commerce and Labor. From
1986 to 1990, Maria Everett worked under the Virginia Department
of Commerce as a property
registration administrator. Starting
in 1991, she would go on to staff the
House General Laws Committee.
In
2000,
Maria
Everett
would assume her position as
the first executive director of
the Virginia FOIA Council after
heading the study that would lead
to the organization’s creation.
The Virginia FOIA Council is
a testament to Maria Everett’s
commitment to being proactive.
It takes courage to be a leader. It
takes the type of courage exhibited
by her grandparents who migrated
to America and carved their niche
into American society through the
labor of their own hard work alone.
Her father once told her something
that would brand her soul leaving a
lifetime impression. Claiming that
the moment was so poignant that
she can always imagine herself re-
experiencing it as it happens, the words uttered by her father echo
in her head: “It’s easy to criticize, why don’t you have the courage
to stand for something?” Ever since, Everett has made a conscious
effort to embody the “responsibility of citizenship”, to reject the
notion of the bystander, to be proactive in curing the ills of society.
Under her leadership, The Virginia FOIA Council has served as a
shining example for other states trying to strengthen its adherence
to open and transparent government. She plans to retire from the
position and pass it on to a younger impassioned candidate soon,
in an effort to break down the “old guard” structure of government.
With over 30 years of governmental work under her belt and
an alto voice earning her spot in the Richmond Symphony chorus,
Maria Everett continues to be a woman worthy of admiration. The
Commonwealth of Virginia should pay homage to a woman whose
personal virtue and professional contributions have contributed
to a better functioning state government. To Everett, the ability
to be open and accountable is incredibly important. Her undying
commitment to ensuring an open government mirrors her virtue,
as a women unapologetically open and unafraid to pursue what
she values.
Mazer Height is a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University
majoring in print-journalism, and intern at Tall Poppies
Consulting.
Carrying on the Torch:
Standing Up for an Open Government
By Mazer Height
Everett
V